The Real Diaper Association

Using Flour Sack Towels as Flat Diapers

Flats by far are one of my favorite diapers to use, and make up 75% of my diaper stash. I have two children in cloth, a two year old and a 7 ½ month old, and I reach for my flats 90% of the time. The only type of flats that I have in my stash and the only ones I have ever used are Flour Sack Towels (FSTs). Therefore, I have nothing really to compare the FST to, since I have never tried a name brand flat.

Two years ago, I wanted to participate in the Flats and Handwashing Challenge, but needed to buy flats on a very tight budget. I heard about FSTs so I was off to find them. I started the challenge with 10 FSTs and 5 receiving blankets. By the end of the challenge, I was in love with them and bought 10 more to add to my stash.

The benefits of using FSTs as flats are:

- They are very accessible. Most chain stores have Flour Sack Towels in the kitchen linen aisle. I have found them in Wal-Mart, Target, and Meijer. - They are cost effective. All of them averaged $1 each. - They work well. There is not much shrinkage, folding is easy and they are soft. Absorbency depends on the age of the towel, but I have not had many problems with them.

Prepping them was easy. A 20 minute boil with a drop or two of Dawn dish soap and a wash in the machine and they were ready to use.

The only down side to using FSTs: They give off lint every time you wash them. In addition, this can be messy and more work. When I go to fold my clean FSTs and shake first, lint ends up all over the floor. You can tell right where I stood to fold my FSTs. This lint can also be found on baby’s bottom. Since they are always leaving lint behind, they are also becoming thinner. To this day, I still have about four FST that have been in my stash for one year, but they are so thin I can see through them, or they have holes in them. Since they thin so much I use two FSTs together to make one diaper for my child. Therefore, fifty FSTs gives me 25 diapers.

Overall, they are great for a quick pinch if you need to increase your stash, need an emergency diaper when on a trip, or want to try out flats before spending the money. If you decide flats are for you and you want them, I suggest saving and buying actual flat diapers. They may last you longer, and still be easy on your pocket book in the end.

- Luann Wells is an RDA volunteer in training to be a Circle Leader in the Low Country Real Diaper Circle.